Welcome to the advISO SOP Writing Guide
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**Release:** |release| [|today|]

The following pages have been developed to provide comprehensive guidance on the writing and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for organisations working toward accreditation under the ISO 15189 (medical laboratories) and ISO 17025 (testing and calibration laboratories) standards.

This guide explains in detail how an SOP should be structured and what content must be included to meet international requirements. It offers practical advice, examples, and frameworks that enable laboratories to create SOPs which not only comply with ISO standards but also serve as clear, reliable evidence of quality and competence.

A :ref:`Glossary of ISO terms <glossary>` is also provided, offering definitions and bioinformatics-specific translations to facilitate clear communication and shared understanding between both wet lab and dry lab teams. This glossary is intended to bridge disciplinary language gaps and promote collaboration across different areas of expertise.

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This documentation was developed as part of the Wellcome Trust–funded project: “ISO in a Box: Developing a framework to enable the development of end-to-end genomics-based ISO 15189 and ISO 17025 accredited services, anywhere in the world” (Grant Reference: 228162/Z/23/Z)


.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 2

   sop_guide/introduction
   sop_guide/modular_alternative
   sop_guide/case_studies
   sop_guide/purpose/purpose
   sop_guide/scope/scope
   sop_guide/underlying_principles/underlying_principles
   sop_guide/cross_references/cross_references
   sop_guide/definitions/definitions
   sop_guide/responsibilities/responsibilities
   sop_guide/resources_tools/resources_tools
   sop_guide/equipment_reagents/equipment_reagents
   sop_guide/health_safety/health_safety
   sop_guide/information_governance/information_governance
   sop_guide/specimen_collection_transport/specimen_collection_transport
   sop_guide/data_types/data_types
   sop_guide/sample_types/sample_types
   sop_guide/training_requirements/training_requirements
   sop_guide/procedure/procedure
   sop_guide/quality_control_assurance/quality_control_assurance
   sop_guide/interferences_limitations/interferences_limitations
   sop_guide/results_reporting_authorisation/results_reporting_authorisation
   sop_guide/record_management/record_management
   sop_guide/appendices/appendices
   sop_guide/change_history/change_history
   glossary/